Instagram Reels Are Coming to Your TV
▼ Summary
– Meta is launching a pilot test of a new Instagram TV app for watching Reels on Amazon Fire TV devices in the US.
– The app’s homescreen displays personalized, horizontal collections of videos grouped into topical “Channels” for easy browsing.
– Viewers can watch Reels from followed accounts and recommended content, with each full-screen video showing captions and engagement stats.
– The app supports logging into up to five accounts for personalized viewing and may later add features like using a phone as a remote.
– Instagram plans to expand the app to more devices and countries after learning from this initial US test.
Meta is launching a new pilot program that brings the popular short-form video experience of Instagram Reels directly to your living room television. This dedicated TV app, initially available for Amazon Fire TV devices in the United States, is designed to transform the big screen into a portal for endless, personalized video entertainment. The move represents a significant expansion of the Reels platform beyond mobile devices, aiming to capture viewer attention in a more communal and immersive setting.
The application’s interface is built for a lean-back viewing experience. The home screen presents horizontal rows of curated video collections, allowing users to easily browse through content. Selecting a thumbnail expands the video to play in its original portrait format, with the caption displayed on one side and engagement metrics like likes and shares on the other. Navigation mirrors the familiar mobile experience; swiping up brings the next Reel into view from the bottom of the screen.
According to Instagram, the content mix will include Reels from accounts a user follows alongside popular and algorithmically recommended videos. Upon logging in, viewers will encounter “Channels,” which are thematic groupings of Reels organized by topics such as sports, cooking, music, or current trends. These Channels are intended to simplify content discovery, letting users dive into specific interests without needing to search for individual creators manually. Some Channels will showcase what’s trending platform-wide, while others will be tailored to a user’s past activity and preferences.
The TV app also incorporates a search function to find specific creators or explore profiles that are Reels-centric. To accommodate households, the app supports logging into up to five separate Instagram accounts, ensuring each viewer gets a personalized feed. Looking ahead, Instagram has hinted at future enhancements, including the ability to use a smartphone as a remote control and developing more intuitive ways to browse between different content Channels.
For now, the pilot is exclusive to the U.S. market and compatible with most Fire TV Stick models, as well as Fire TV Series 2 and Omni televisions. The company plans to use feedback from this initial test to refine the product before expanding its availability to additional devices and countries in the future.
(Source: The Verge)
